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Sprint lowers phone-as-a-modem pricing, but read the fine print
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Sprint Nextel has announced a particularly enticing incentive for mobile data users, but at least one analyst is warning folks to read the fine print.
The operator, which is struggling to keep customers, has dramatically lowered its phone-as-a-modem add-on plan price from $50 to $15 per month. To get the plan, customers must own a PowerVision phone with laptop connection capabilities. However, Current Analysis says the plan comes with strict requirements. Because the phone-as-a-modem option is an add-on feature, the $15 plan is only available with certain data plans.
"The attachable plan must be bought in conjunction with any one of three domestic or two global data plans for PDAs/smartphones, customers still have to shell out $45-$85 a month (on top of a monthly voice plan) and it may still boost Sprint's overall revenues. Before this, PAM (phone-as-a-modem) was $49.99 standalone with no base plan requirements," Current Analysis said.
For more:
- read RCR Wireless News
Related stories:
Rumor Mill: Is Sprint planning to reduce wireless modem rates? Modem story
Sprint customers continue to flee, base drops to 51.9M. Sprint story
Comments
Posted by Anonymous | August 22, 2008 - 1:03pm
Based on this, this will be an awesome deal for most users (most Sprint subscribers with a PowerVision phone already have the data pack - otherwise if they wanted voice only, they'd go with T-Mobile)!
Posted by Bailey14 | August 22, 2008 - 1:10pm
Lynnette;
Of couse the PAM was $49.99 as a standalone product. You could use it in place of carrying around another data connection card. If you have a data plan today. In reference to devices it is not limited to PowerVision devices, it can be used with any device that is PAM compatible. You can still get the standalone $49.99 PAM.
Posted by PMP imp | August 22, 2008 - 3:50pm
Who ever wrote this didn't even look at the plans Sprint currently offers. The simply everything plans are data plans and range from $70 to $100. $15 more make the phone a modem? Hell Yea!
Posted by Anonymous | August 22, 2008 - 4:04pm
This might actually do more to increase monthly gross than people think. PAM without having a plan that allows it isn't all that hard, but for $15/month its actually worth doing it the "right" way.
Posted by Anonymous | September 4, 2008 - 6:23pm
What a bunch of trash. Sprint Everything Plan does not allow you to use Phone as Modem.
Posted by Anonymous | December 23, 2008 - 3:47pm
Our company has the Everything Data Share 3000. We were told when we signed up for it that would could do PAM. There was never a charge for the PAM on the bill though (2 phones using PAM).
I called to add it to a 3rd phone and (1st operator) said he cant find it but will call me back with status, (2nd operator (had to add int roam so was transfered)) she said she couldnt find it either but would also call back with status.
1st guy calls back says he couldnt add it, no call from 2nd. Then the next morning my phone was magically added to the wireless network.
Well anyways i used 50-75mb at hunting w/o having it and never got charged for using it. NONE of our phones have been charged yet.
USE PAM for 5 min and pull a couple kb then wait till next bill. See if they charge you for it and if they do call and complain. If you complain, 99% of the time they will give you a credit for the amount of charge or better.
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